Dubai based common carrier feeder operator Orient Express Lines (OEL) have decided to deploy their brand new vessel the M.V. 'OEL Dubai' of 1028 teus capacity which was taken delivery of Colombo-Cochin shuttle reaffirming their commitment to the Port of Colombo.

OEL began in Sri Lanka by operating a service between Colombo and Cochin as far back as in 1992 and thereafter have been gradually spreading their tentacles to cover all major ports in India and Bangladesh.

Owners' Representative for OEL in Sri Lanka Marius Gomez said the decision to deploy their brand new vessel on this shuttle is a clear signal of the commitment of Orient Express Lines to the Colombo Port and furthermore the confidence they have in the Port.

It has also been the first of its kind for a feeder operator to take delivery of a vessel direct from the builders and sail into Colombo to operate a shuttle hobbing around Colombo.

This is indeed a milestone for the Port of Colombo, which they could be certainly proud of.

In addition, OEL also operates services between Colombo and Tuticorin/Chennai in India and Chittagong in Bangladesh and in 2007 OEL had a throughput of over 215,000 tues over the Port of Colombo.

Today, Orient Express Lines and its affiliates own 17 vessels with three more new buildings currently under construction, one of them being built by ST Marine - in Singapore will be delivered within the next two months and the remaining two of 1,740 teus each being built by Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard in China.

In addition, they operate a number of vessels which are chartered in as well.
(DN 24042008)